HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 31 



abundance of wood and several small streams carrying a supply of 

 water for steamers or sailing vessels. From the ship, with hand lines, 



1 halibut, weighing 85 pounds, and 15 cod were caught ; also 1 hali- 

 but, weighing 85 pounds, on a trawl set at the mouth of the bay, in 

 15 fathoms; rocky bottom. 



July 27, the storm having abated, the Albatross steamed out of the 

 bay and headed offshore, and at 3.15 p. m. made a set in 49 fathoms, 

 rocky bottom, 7 miles from East Chugach Island, which bore W. % 

 S., in which position 15 halibut, averaging 12J pounds and 30^ inches, 

 and 9 cod were taken, a convincing indication that the ground here 

 is prolific. It is also safe to say that along the coast from Port Dick 

 to the westward beyond the Chugach Islands, also offshore in depths 

 ranging from 40 to 50 fathoms, halibut are to be found in paying 

 quantities. 



At 7 p. m. a position was occupied in 66 fathoms of w^ater, rocky 

 bottom, Pearl Island bearing NW., distance 6 miles, or latitude 59° 

 00' 00" N., longitude 151° 34' 00" W. Owing to the strong tide 

 which was running, which did not show its full strength until the 

 anchor of the trawl reached bottom, the ground line parted, causing 

 the loss of a large portion of the trawl. On the few remaining hooks 



2 halibut were taken, weighing 10 and 16 pounds, respectively. 



It may be suggested that in order to make successful sets on this 

 ground, where the tide enters and flows out of Cook Inlet with con- 

 siderable force, two dories should be used, one at each end of the 

 trawl. By this method there would be less danger of losing the gear 

 should it part, which is likely to be the case on rocky bottom, par- 

 ticularly when a strong tide runs, such as found here at most times, 

 as the second dory would, in the majority of cases, secure the re- 

 maining portion of the trawl. Undoubtedly there is a large quan- 

 tity of halibut in this region, and probably adjacent grounds are 

 equally good. The chief objection to this ground is the probability 

 of losing a large amount of gear. Means of overcoming the danger 

 of such loss would no doubt be found, however, once it became known 

 to fishermen that halibut were plentiful. 



A fleet of vessels carrying 10 or 12 dories each, and each dory oper- 

 ating 8 to 10 skates of gear, would in a very short time locate the most 

 prolific spots, as was done by fishermen on the various grounds in 

 southeast Alaska, Queen Charlotte ground, and off Cape Scott, Van- 

 couver Island. 



Portlock Bank. — On July 28 three trials were made on Portlock 

 Bank, the position and depths as follows: Latitude 58° 36' 00" N., 

 longitude 150° 56' 30" W., 43 fathoms; latitude 58° 28' 00' N., 

 longitude 150° 25' 00" W., 36 fathoms and latitude 58° 18' 00" N., 

 longitude 149° 46' 00" W., 42 fathoms. The trials were 17 and 22 



